THE 2018 GEEK HARD HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: PART 1

Hello friends. Welcome to the first installment of the 2018 Geek Hard Holiday Gift Guide. Each Year, Mr. Green and I bring your our picks for the best gifts to buy the geek in your life. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be showing you some great gifts for all price ranges. This week, we’ll be taking a look at gifts priced under $300. Take a look and enjoy. You might find just the right gift to give that special someone.

GIFTS LESS THAN $300

There have been many great duos in the four-colour world of comics. None have been quite as lovable and entertaining as bosom buddies Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. Their antics in the Justice League have always been good for a laugh. Celebrate this heroic pair by picking up this awesome two-pack. Go for the Gold (and the Blue).

Gaming consoles are an important part of geek history. This new book by Evan Amos takes you on journey through time, from classic systems like the Atari 2600 all the way into the present with PS4 and Xbox One. Showing you all the nuts and bolts of each system, this an interesting gift for the wily gamer in your household.

We recently lost the man who created this story, William Goldman, who passed away on November 16th. In honour of the man, pick up this new Criterion Edition of The Princess Bride, complete with a 4K Digital Transfer and ton of extras. Buttercup, Westley, Inigo Montoya and the rest never looked so good.

He is Groot. Groot is Board. Now Groot is a helpful tool. It’s almost like someone took an axe to the famous tree being and crafted this common kitchen surface out of his dead carcass…….That’s a disturbing image I know. I went a bit too far there. I’ll see myself out…….but before I do, I just want to remind you that this cutting board would still make a great gift for any cook that likes Marvel movies.

You all know this is a great game. Everyone knows. It’s like the only thing in this world that we all can agree on. When you’re not playing the missions in the game, it’s just calming to swing around New York as Spidey. If you know someone who hasn’t played this game, it’s your duty as a member of the Merry Marvel Marching Society. Even if you’re not a card carrying member, have a heart and hook friend up.

The Coen Brothers’ films are very unique. They have a style that many a filmmaker have tried to imitate but have never been able to duplicate. Their quirky nature, layered characters and comic sensibilities have delighted us in such barn burners as The Big Lewboski (remember that name, kids!), Miller’s Crossing, O Brother Where Art Thou? and Hail Ceasar. Adam Nayman brings us a book that mixes biography, interviews and critical analysis to provide “some Grand Unified Theory of Coen-ness.” Sounds like a winner to me!

Hey, isn’t it funny that my last pick referenced this movie? It’s almost like I knew what was coming. The cult classic that is The Big Lebowski is easily one of the most quotable movies the past 20 years. What better way to celebrate this than to give the gift of The Dude to a worthy little achiever. The 20th Anniversary Edition comes with a collectible bag, bowling ball pencil holder, polishing cloth and sweater packaging. All you need to add is a white russian and your set! The Dude abides.

The Big Lebowski is not the only one celebrating a 20th Anniversary. The Marvel Knights Imprint that made Daredevil an A-Lister has also got the right to be proud. We payed tribute to the MK brand on a recent episode of Back Issue Bloodbath. Most of the episode gave props to big Joey Q. Aside from running the imprint (and eventually all of Marvel), Quesada illustrated some of the most memorable Daredevil issues during that time. You can check ’em all out in this fantastic hardcover collection.

Another great Marvel Collection. This Hardcover features Daredevil: Yellow, Spider-Man: Blue, Hulk: Gray and Captain America: White, collected all together for the very first time! Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale are another great comics duo that only comes around once in a lifetime. If you want to read heroic tales that get to the root of the characters, this is some good readin’.

Some may be shocked that there’s a Batman item on the list. While I’m not a huge fan of the Caped Crusader, I am a fan of good storytelling. The team at Warner Animation that made Batman: The Animated Series created a cartoon that’s hard to beat. The set include all 109 episode of the television series plus Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero. Perfect for the completest and bat-fan alike.

So that’s just a few suggestions for the nerd or geek on your shopping list. Next week, Mr. Green will be bringing you 10 more suggestions on what to buy. Come back for more of that!